Health Feature Articles
Be Aware of Breast Cancer
Janet Hackert, Regional Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, Northwest Region, University of Missouri Extension
Most people know someone who has had breast cancer, and October
is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here are a few facts, which may
be surprising, and some measures either to show there is no breast
cancer or to catch it early when it can be more effectively treated.
It is known that breast cancer is hereditary. So if a woman’s
mother, sister, aunt or grandmother has had it, she should be more
careful about looking for it. According to the American Cancer Society,
however, “only 20-30 percent of women with breast cancer have a
family member with this disease.” This statistic means that 7 or
8 out of every 10 women who have breast cancer are NOT related to
someone who has had it. Either way, early screening is important!
As a woman ages, her risk of developing breast cancer increases.
“Nearly 8 out of 10 breast cancers occur in women over age 50,”
says the American Cancer Society. The risk for a woman over 70 developing
the disease in the next year is almost double that for a 50-year-old.
Though the risk is high, there are some things that can be done.
All women, starting in their 20s, should perform a monthly breast
self exam to help detect changes in the tissue of the breast that
may indicate cancer. For instructions on a thorough method for self
examination, a woman can ask her doctor or go to the American Cancer
Society’s web site at www.cancer.org.
She should report any changes to her physician promptly.
Also, for younger women, aged 20-39, a breast exam as part of
their well-woman medical check up should be done every three years.
For women 40 years old and older, this exam by a doctor or nurse
should be completed at least annually.
After age 40, women should also have a yearly mammogram. These
should continue, “for as long as they are in good health,” recommends
the American Cancer Society.
If a tumor is detected when it is just under one inch in size, there is a 94 percent 5-year survival rate. For a tumor larger than two inches, the rate goes down to 66 percent. Breast cancer doesn’t have to be fatal, and early detection can mean avoiding an extremely difficult medical situation.
Last Updated 10/16/2009
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